Wood, bamboo, wheat, other grasses, rushes, twigs, osiers or wicker are often used to make baskets, but they are also made today out of plastic. The first baskets were woven by gatherers to collect fruits, grains, nuts and other edible plant materials to be brought back and eaten, as well as for holding fish by early fishing peoples. A creel is a basket made especially to hold fish.

The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique, and the nature of the resulting basket. Rattan and other members of the Arecaceae or palm tree family, the thin grasses of temperate regions, and broad-leaved tropical bromeliads each require a different method of twisting and braiding to be made into a basket.

Although baskets were traditionally created to serve a utilitarian rather than an aesthetic purpose, the practice of basket making has evolved into an art in its own right. Artistic freedom allows basket makers a wide choice of colors, materials, sizes, patterns and details.

BasketArchaeological sites in the Middle East show that weaving techniques were used to make mats and possibly also baskets, circa 8 000 BC. Baskets made with several interwoven techniques were common at 3 000 BC.

The carrying of a basket on one's head, particularly by rural women, has long been practiced. Representations of this in Ancient Greek art are called Canephorae.

In modern usage, baskets are chosen chiefly for decorative purposes.

Easter baskets are used to collect or hold treats for Easter. These baskets are normally made of plastic. Frequently they are not actually woven, but have a weave-like pattern imprinted on a plastic container.

Gift baskets are used to present items such as fruit, wine, and flowers. Some baskets are used to cradle bottles of red wine to assist pouring.

Baskets made out of crystal glass are manufactured both for decorative and utility purposes.

Hot air balloons are commonly equipped with baskets for carrying the operator and passengers.

As a demonstration of contortionism, a basket containing a human may be repeatedly pierced with swords. The human survives through skill in avoiding the swords.